Unloading apparatus for variable-volume compressors



UNLOADINGAPPARATUS FOR VARIABLE VOLUME COMPRESSORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 19

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AU. Sana oFF. 11v VE TOR A 77' RNEY April 29, 1930. A. v. sAHARoFF UNLOADING APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE VOLUME COMPRESSORS Filed Nov. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fill. SAHARpFF- 11v VNTOR an. Sou-mom PowER. 0:14am 7 mm TATOR,-

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A TTO NEY April 29, 1930. A. v. SAHAROFF 1,756,137

UNLOADING APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE VOLUME COMPRESSORS Filed Nov. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nuuuu rum:

ATT RNEY April 29, 1930. A. v. SAHAROFF 1,756,137

UNLOADING APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE VOLUME COMPRESSORS Filed Nov. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 big. 10.

AA SAHARDFF. INVENTOR Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED stares PATENT orr'lcs ALEXANDER V. SAHARQFF, OF CINQINNATI, C 530, ASSIGNOR T VJ'GRTEINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW 33.13, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA UNLOADING APPARATUS roa vnnra srnyotuian coMrnEssoRs Application filed November 22, 1928 Serial No. 321,109.

This invention relates to variable capacity air or gas compressors of the type embodying a series of control valves, each'acting to con trol a partial unloading of the compressor cylinder or cylinders, so as to vary the cylinder capacity in accordance with the number of control. valves operated, and the regular operation of these control valves is secured by a regulator or governor acting through a distributor valveto vary the relative pressures tending to move the control valves in opposite directions for unloading or loading the compressor.

;The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for completelyunloading the compressor in emergencies or at predetermined times, such as on lossof oil pressure, failure of circulating water, excessive' temperatures in the compressor structure, n response to the aictionot a power de .mand limitator, etc., and in instances where the unloading means is employed in connection with electric motor driven compressors,

tobreak'the circuit through the motor and stop; operation of the compressor.

More specifically the present invention embodies means whereby the compressor is unloaded bythe closing of the exhaust line from the regulator or governor controlling operation of" the control valves and introducing, atft-he sametime, fluid under pressure into the exhaust of the regulator distributing valve for operating the control valves to completely unload the compressor. If the governor or regulator, at the time this action takes place, is in a position so as to maintain the compressor in a'full loaded condition then the pressure fluid admitted by said means, passes in a reverse direction through the'distributorvalve tothe various compressor control valves and operates all of them. If the regulator is in position so as to unload the compressor partially, then pressure fluid is admitted through the distributor valve to the control valves'of the'compress'or not alreadyheld in compressor unloading position and moves them into unloading position.

In other words, the present invention embodies-means by which, regardless of the type I of regulatpr and distributor valve employed in connectionwith the unloading mechanism of variable capacity compressors, the compressor may be thrown into its completely unloaded condition by admitting pressure fluid through the exhaust of the distributing valve. 7

With these objects in view, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a compressor of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. he a diagrammatic view showing the invention applied to a motor driven air or gas compressor and to operate in conjunction with a power demand limit-ator.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the distributor valve, used in connection with the form of regulator illustrated in Fig. 1.

F ig.- 3 is a detailed section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4, through a solenoid operated valve which controls the admission of pressure fluid in the exhaustline of the regulator.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the complete solenoid operated valve structure.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the invention associated with a power demand limitator and used in connection with an induction motor driven compressor.

Fig. -6is a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of the invention to a motor driven compressor, utilizing an electrically operated regulator for regulating the unloading of thecompressor, and showing the emergency unloading structure operable in connection with means sensitive to pressure of lubricating oil.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the distributor valve illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the distributor valve, taken on the line 8+8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9is a detailed vertical section through the distributor valve, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7.

mined temperatures.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrat ing the emergency unloading 'mechanism operable in response to failure of cooling water. e V

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a temperature responsive device which may be used in connection with the means, for operating Referring to the drawings, i ticularlyto the systemillustrated in Figs.

1 to 4 inclusive; the compressor 1 is driven by anelectrie motor .2 and it has the clearance control valves 3 associated therewith,i by means of which the capacity of the cylinder of the compressoris regulated in accordance with'the demand. -The control which is disclosed in Patent No. 1,579,781, and another in Patent No. 1,636,489, 'it be ing understood that the present invention does not relate to any particular type of control valve or mechanism or system for unloading'of the compressor cylinder.

by a regulator structure 4 embodying a diaphragm 5 acted upon by receiver pressure fluid for operating the 'lever 6, which in turn, through" the pilot valve 7, controls operation of the regulatorf 4 for operating the distributor valve 8. The 'distributor valve 8 includes the cylindert) in whichthe valve piston 10 reciprocates, the said piston being reciprocated by the regulator 4 through the connection 11. Fluid under pressure from any suitable source is admitted to the cylinder 9 through the pipe 12 andthe movement of the piston 10 and the distribu tor valve construction controls the passage of the pressure fluid from the cylinder 9 to the various control valves 3 through the pipes 13 "for operating the control valves to unload the compressor 1 in predetermined fractions of its maximum capacity. When the pressure of the pressure fluid admitted to the cylinder 9 through the pipe 12 decreases beyond various predetermined degrees, the various control valves 3, responsive to different degrees of pressure depending upon the fraction of the maximum capacity of the compressor, which they control, act to permitloading 'of the compressor to the capacity controlled by the respective valveor valves. At such times the pressure fluid in-the valves exhausts through the pipes 13, cylinder 9 i and the exhaust outlet or pipe 14 of the distributor valve, because at such times, the

valve piston 10 is positioned, by operation 7 of the regulator 4, to bring the pipes 13,

which distribute the pressure fluid to the control valves, which are in'acompressor emergency unloading it under p redeterv g V the pipe 19 which exhausts to-the atmosphere,

and more parloading position, iri'to communication with the outlet or exhaustport 14.

The exhaust port 14 of the distributor valve 8 is connected by a pipe 15 with the solenoid operated valve'lti, and when the solenoid 17 is energized the piston 18 ofthe valve 16 is in its upperposition, establish in rcommunication between the pipe 15 and or in instances of gas compressors may, exhaust to the suction of the compressor.

. When the circuit is brokenthrough the solenoid 17, the piston 18 of the solenoid operatedvalve 16 is in its lower position, as shown in f the drawings, and communication is established between the pipe 20 and the pipe 15. The pipe 20 is connected to any suitable supply source of pressure fluid sothat when communication between the pipes 20 and 15 is open fluid under pressure will be admitted through the exhaust port 14 of the distributor valve 8 and through all of the pipes 13' Which'are, at such time, in communication with the exhaust port to the respective control valves 3 for operating thesecontrol valves-to com- 7 1 pletely unload the compressor 1. r In the system illustrated in Fig. 1 of the I drawings, the-control valves 3 are operated compressorloading position and therefore all of them will be moved into compressor unloading position by the admission of pressure fiuid intothe cylinder 8 through the exhaust port 14'; However, should any 'of the control valves 3 be in compressor unloading position,

at the time of the admission of pressure fluid through theexhaust port 14, they will remain in compressor unloading position, while others willbe moved into compressor unloading positions.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the complete solenoid valve construction is illustrated and r the core 21 of the solenoid is moved upward while the solenoid 1? is energized, and at such time the pressurerod- 22 and pressure pin 23, which operate the piston 18, are relieved from the weight of the core 21 and the weight 24, so that the valve piston'18 is moved upward by the spring 25. When the solenoid 17 current to the motor2. The power demand limitator 27 may be. of any approved construction, such as may be purchased upon the open market, and this limitator i's an electric device for automatically controlling and lim iting power demand or peak-loads on the electric power system and it may be adjusted so that-any desired load may be controlled for any amount of energy;

When the predetermined demand has been reached, the limitator will reduce the power supply to the motor 2 and thus limit the peak. vVhen the limitator 27 operates to limit power demand of the motor 2, it breaks the circuit through the solenoidl'Z, which permits the admission of pressure-fluid through the exhaust port 14 into the distributor valve 8 and completely unloads the compressor 1, regardless of the loaded or unloaded state of the compressor ascontrolled by the regulator 4. In Fig. 5 of the drawings, a wiring diagram is illustrated, showing the solenoid control valve structure 16 connected in circuit with a power demand limitator 27 and with a squirrel cage induction motor 30. The solenoid valve structure 16 is in circuit with the motor 30, through the limitator 27 and through the run switch 31, which may be opened by any protective relay, so that when the switch 31 is opened and power is cut off to the motor 30, the solenoid valve structure 16 will be de-energized for permitting complete unloading of the compressor. in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

Referring to the diagrammatic arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the compressor 40, which is of any approved construction, is operated by the electric motor 41 and it has control valves 42, which operate to control fractional loading or unloading of the compressor in the same manner in which the control valves 3' operate to control the loading and unloading of the compressor 1.

The pressure fluid for operating the control valves 42 is distributed thereto, from a suitable supply source, by the distributor valve 43,.which receives the pressure fluid through the pipe 44. The distributor valve 43 and the governor or regulator mechanism 45, which controls operation of the valve 43, are specifically described in my companion application, Serial No. 314,434,.filed October23rd, 1928 and will not be specifically described in the present application. The regulator structure 45 is electrically operated through the medium of the motor 46 for operating the distribs utor valve 43, which is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive of the drawings. The distributor valve 43 includes the rotary disc 47 which is provided with a plurality of passageways 48, which establislicommunication between the pressure fluid inlet chamber 49 in the valve structure 43 and the various passageways and ports 50, which have communication through the pipes51 with the control valves 42 for supplying the pressure fluid to the control valves. The passageways 48 also establish communication with the exhaust port 52 of the valve structure 43. The disc 47, which controlscommunication of the various ports or passageways 50, with the inlet chamber 49 or exhaust 52, is rotated through the medium of the shaft 53, rotation of which is in turn controlled by a pressure responsive mechanism generically indicated at 54, and when the control valves 42 are in compressor unloading position, they are subjected to pressure fluid by the establishing of communication between the pipes 51 and the inlet chamber 49 and they are cut off from communication with the exhaust port 52. However, when the control valves 42 are in compressor loading position, the pipes 51 have communication with the exhaust port 52 through either of the passages 48 to permit exhausting of the pressure fluid from the control valve structures.

The exhaust port 52 of the valve 43 is connected by means of a pipe 55 with the valve 56, operation of which is controlled by the solenoid 57. The valve 56 is identical in construction with the valve 16, so that, when the solenoid 57 is energized, the valve is in position to permit fluid passing through the pipe 55 to exhaust from the valve 56 through the pipe 58, either to the atmosphere or to the suction of the compressor. However, when the solenoid 57 is d'e-energized, the valve 56 is operated to admit pressure fluid from a suitable source through the pipe 59, valve 55, and through the exhaust port 52 of the distributor valve 43 to any of the control valves 42, which are in compressor loading position so as to move them into compressor unloading position.

The solenoid 57, in the construction illustrated on Fig. 6 of the drawings, is connected in circuit with a pressure operated control switch 60, of any suitable construction, so as to be responsive to action of said switch 60. However, a mercoid pressure operated switch is illustrated in the drawings, and this mercoid pressure operated switch 60 is connected in the lubricating line 61 of the compressor structure so that t-he valve (50 will be responsive to pressure of the lubricant in the force feed lubricating system of the compressor. When the proper circulation of the lubricating oil in the compressor fails, the mercoid switch .60 will operate to break the circuit through the solenoid 57, to pro vide complete unloading of the compressor as above specified, and owing to the fact that the switch 60 is also placed in the energizing line of the motor 41, the motor will also be deenergized, and the compressor will cease op eration as well as being completely unloaded upon the failure of proper lubrication. The switch 60 is connected in the circuit for controlling energizing of the motor 41 and the solenoid 55 by suitable wires 62. as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, the emergenc unloading mechanism is illustrated as being responsive to' cooling water failure, or fail ure of proper circulation .ofcooling water the drawings, and the water enters the interthrough the compressor.

' Inthe construction shown in Fig. 10, the compressors 70 and 71 have control valves 72 associated therewith, which operate in the same mannerasthe control valves 3 and 42 for controlling loading and unloading oi": thecompressors; and the delivery of pressure fluid to the controlvalves 72 from a suitable supply source, through the pipe 73, is controlled by'a regulator 7 4, which is illustrated as ot the same construction and type as the regulator 4, through the distributor valve 75. :The distributor valve 7 5 is of the same type and construction and operatedin the same manner as the distributor valve 8,'so

that its exhaust port is connected to the solenoid operated valve-'76, which'in turn has connection through a pipe 77 with a suitable supply source of pressure fluid so as to admitthe pressure fluid backwards through the distributing valve 75-to the control valves 72 upon the ole-energizing ot the solenoid 78 in the same manner in which the pressure fluid is admitted to the control valves 3 through the exhaust port'14 of the distributor valve 8. a

The water circulating system of the con pressor structure is illustrated in Fig. 10 of cooler 7 9 through the inlet 80. The intercooler 7 9 is of the two-pass type, that is, the

cooling water entering the intercooler passes through a part thereot in one direction and then returns through another partof the interco oler in a reverse direction, leaving the intercooler through the pipe 81 from which it enters the cooling jackets of the compressor 70. From the compressor the cooling water passes through a suitable piping, as indicated at 82, into the cooling jacketsof the compressor 71. After circulation through the cooling jackets of the compressor 71 the cooling water passesoutwardly through a suitable outlet pipe 83.

Aipressure responsive mercoid switch structure 84 is shown connected to the pipe 82 and it isresponsive to the pressure of the -'While the pressure responsive mercoid.-

' system of the compressor.

cooling water as it is circulated through the and of the motor 85, which operates the'compressors 7 0 and 71, will controlthe energizing ot-the solenoid 78 and of the motor so that, when the pressureot the circulating water is up to the requirements the switch 84 willbe operated so asto permit energizing of'bot-h the motor 85 and the'solenoid 7 8;

However, should the watcrcirc'ulating system fail, at which time the pressure will naturally fail, the switch 84 will operate to'break the circuit through both the motor 85 and the solenoid 78 so as to completely unload the:

compressors 7 0 and Tland stop their operation through de-energizing of the motor 85.

- In Fig. 11 of the drawings, a temperature responsive mercoid switch structure ofapproved type, which maybe purchased upon the open market, is illustrated, and this'construetion embodies thethermostat and the switch structure 91 which is controlled bylthe thermostat 90 so as torender the switch 91 This responsive .to temperature variances.

type of temperature responsive switch mechani'sm, or any other approved analogous type of temperature responsive switch mechanism, may be substituted for the pressure responsive switch mechanism 84 or may be utilized at any suitable point in 'a'compressor instal- 'lation' for controlling operation ot the solenoid operated valve and of the motor for operating the compressor so as to provide for the unloading and stopping of thecompressor when predetermined temperatures reached. 7 r I Summing up, it will be apparentrfrom the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, that an emergency unloading mechanism for completely unloading a variable capacity compressor, irrespective of its loaded or unloaded regulator controlled condition, has been provided which operates, upon operation of a power demand limit-ator, failure oflubrication, failure of coolin water circulation, etc., to-admitpressureuidin a reverse direction through the regulator operated distributing valve to the control valves of the compressor. 7 I While inall of the drawings an electric motor is illustrated as the motive means for operating the respective compressors, it is to be understood that the-improved emergency unloading mechanism-maybe used in connection with compressors operated by any other type of motors, such as steam engines, internal-combustion engines or thelike, with out departing from the spirit of this invention.

It willbe, understood that the inventionis not to be limited to the Specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention defined by the claims. 1 7

What is claimed is: i I Y '1. In :a variablecapacitycompressor, the combination with' a cylinder, pressure operated control valves controlling the loading and unloading of the cylinder, a distributor valve for controlling the passage of pressure fluid to said control valves, of means operated at predetermined times to admit control valve operating pressure fluid through said 'distributonvalve in. a reverseidirection to are FOE

' valve, a regulator for operating said distributor valve to control passage of operating pressure fluid to said control valves, and means operated at predetermined times to admitpressure fluid through said distributor valve, in a reverse direction to the normal directional flow of fluid therethrough to move said control valves into unloading position regardless of their regulator controlled position.

3. In a variable'capacity compressor, the combination, of a cylinder, pressure operated control valves controlling the loading and unloading of the cylinder, a distributor valve for controlling the passage of operating pressure fluid to said control valves, and an emergency operated valve operated at predetermined times to admit control valve operating fluid through said distributor valve in a reverse direction to the normal directional'flow of controlvalve operating fluid therethrough.

i. In a variable capacity compressor, the combinatiomof a cylinder, pressure operated control valves controlling the unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve,

.a regulator for operating said distributor valve to; control passage of pressure fluid to said control valves, anda valve operated at predetermined times to-admit control valve operatin pressure fluid through said distributor valve in a reverse direction to the normal directional flow of control valve operating fluid therethrough to move said control valves into unloading position regardless of their regulator cont-rolled positions.

5. In a variable capacity compressor, the combination With'a cylinder, a motor for operating said compressor, pressure operated control valves controlling the unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve controlling the passage of operating pressure fluid to said control valves, of means operated at predetermined times to admit control valve operating pressure fluid through the distributor valve in a reverse direction to the normal directional flow of control valve operating fluid therethrough to move said control valves into unloading. position, and means valves, means operated at predetermined times to admit control valve operating pressure fluid through said distributor valve in a reverse direction to the normal directional flow of operating pressure fluid therethrough to move said control valves into compressor unloading position regardless of their regulator controlled positions, and means to arrest operation of said motor upon operation of said last named means.

7. In a variable capacity compressor, the combination, of a cylinder, pressure operated control valves for controlling the unloading and loading oi? the cylinder, a distributor valve, a regulator operating said distributor valve for controlling passage of operating pressure fluid to said control valves, the pressure fluid exhausting from said control valves through said distributor valves, and a valve in the exhaust from said distributor valve for closing the exhaust and admitting pressure fluid to said control valves through the exhaust of said distributor valve.

8. In avariable capacity compressor, the

combination, of a motor for operating the compressor, a compressor cylinder, pressure operated control valves for controlling unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve, a regulator operating said distributor valve for controlling passage of operating pressure fluid to said control valves, the pressure fluid exhausting from said control valves through said distributor valve, a valve in the exhaust from said distributor valve for closing the exhaust and admitting pressure fluid to said control valves through the exhaust of said distributor valve, and means for arresting operation of said motor upon the closing of the exhaust of said distributor valve. I 9. In a variable capacity compressor, the combination, of a cylinder, pressure operated control valves for controlling unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve, a regulator operating said distributor valve for controlling the passage of pressure fluid to said control valves, the pressure fluid exhausting from said control valves through said distributor valve, and a solenoid operated valve in the exhaust from said distributor valve forclosing the exhaust and admitting operating pressure fluid to said control valves through the exhaust of said distributor valve;

10. In a variable capacity compressor, the combination, of an electric motor for operating the compressor, a compressor cylinder, pressure operated control valves for controlling unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve, a regulator operating said distributor valve for controlling passage of pressure fluid to said control valves, the pressure fluid exhausting from said control valves through said distributor valve, a sole noid operated valve in the exhaust from said erated valve active uponde-energizing of the combination, of an electric motor for operat ing the compressor, a compressor cylinder, pressure operated Control valves for controlling'unloading and loading of the cylinder, a distributor valve, a regulator. operating said distributor valve for controlling passage of pressure fluid to said control valves, the pres-v sure'fluid exhausting from said control valves through said distributor valve, a solenoid opsolenoid t'o'close the. exhaust and admit pressurefluid to said control valves through the exhaust of'said distributor valve.

' 12. In a variable capacity compressor, the

combination, of an electric motor-for operating the compressor, a compressor cylinder,

pressure operated control valvesfor controlling unloading and loading of the cylinder a distributor valve, a regulator operating said distributor valve for controlling passage ergizing oi": the solenoid to close the exhaust and admit pressure fluid to said control valves through the exhaust of said distributor valve, and'means operable at predetermined times for breaking the energizing'circuit to said solenoid operated valve and to said motor for stopping the motor and de-energizi-ng the solenoid valve. v i

13. The combination'with a variable capacity compressor including unloading mechanism, a distributor valve for controlling operation of said unloading mechanism, and a regulator for operating said distributor valve of an emergency unloading'device, including a solenoid operated valve operable at predetermined emergencies to admit operating fluid to the unloading mechanism of the-compressor for completely'unloading the compressor irrespective of the regulator controlled loaded or'unloaded condition of the compressor.

14. The combination with a variable capacity compressor including unloading mechanism, a distributor valve "for controlling operation of said unloading mechanism, and a regulator for operating said distributing valve, of an emergency unloading device, including a solenoid operated valve controlling exhaust therethrough of the pressure fluid utilized for operating the unloading mechanism of the compressor during the energized condition of the solenoid and closing the ex haust and admitting operating pressure fluid to the unloading mechanism upon the de-energizing of the solenoid. i

15. The combination with a variable capacity compressor including unloading mechanism, a distributor valve for controlling operation ofsaid unloading mechanism, and a regulator for operating said distributor valve, of an emergencyunloadingdevice in cluding a solenoid operated valve operable at predetermined emergencies to admit operating fluid to the unloading mechanism of the compressor for completely unloading the compressor irrespective of the regulator control loaded or unloaded condition of the compressor, a motor for operating the compressor, and means to arrest operation of said motor upon operation of said solenoid opv erated valve at gencies. r V V 16. The combination with avariablefca pacity compressor including unloading mechanism, a distributor valve for controlling operation of said unloading mechanism, and a regulator for operating said distributor valve, of an emergency unloading device insaid predetermined emercluding a solenoid operated valve controlling exhaust therethrou'gh of the pressure fluid utilized for operating the unloading mechanism during the energized condition of the solenoid and'closing the exhaust and admitting operating pressure fluid to the unloading mechanism upon the l deenerg izing of the solenOid'motor for operating the com pressor and means to arrest operation-of said motor upon deenergizing; of the solenoid.

In testimony .WhereofI afiix my signature.

V ALEXANDER V. SAHAROFF. 

